The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-05
THoRP WAS DRUNK
The Reason Why the Vernon Sank
Very Apparent.

CnlcAGo, ILL.,, Nov. 4. Edgar A. Hall,
brother OF the second engineer of the Yer
non, stated yesterday that the last time
his brother was in Chicago he told him
that Capt. Thorp master OF the Vernon,
had an attack Of delirium trcmens while
on top Of the pilot-house Mr.. Hall was
formerly connected with the Northern
Michigan line, and was clerk OF the pro
peller Champain until u short time before
she burned, when he resigned TO accept u
position as bookkcepcr with llanchctt
Bros. No. % lasalc street. He also said
that Il ought 10 have been well known to
the other officers OF the line that Capt.
Thorn was hard drinkcr, and that he
had often left port while drunk. Mr. Hall
gave the name OF n prominent wholesale
merchant who recently made q trip
ON the Vernon who had told him that
Cant, Thorp was drunk during the entire
time he remained on the boat. The
brother of Mrs NJ. 4. Van Amburgh
called at the Tribune Office last night and
said that her sister arrived in Chicago on
the Vernon ON September 3, accompanied
by Miss Addir Mickey, of Waterloo, \.
Y. The steamer was three days longer
than usual in making the trip from Che
boy,-an. and both ladies told him that the
capinin was drunk all the time. AXcl
Stone, the only survivor Of the disaster,
when asked II he ever saw Capt Thorp
drunk. replied. "Ihc captain was drunk
most OF the time, and lac was very drunk
nhen he left Chcboygan last week. While
We we've coming through the straits, the
Second mate said tn him, Sober up, YOU
drunken beast, aud take care oi this boat
and the people, The captain told him 10
20 10 HI. was in the cabin ut the time
and heard every word that was said Friday
night. which WIS the night that the
steamer WIS lost The captain WIS m'
drunk ns ever saw him, and lac kept taxi
ing drink every little while from bottle
that he carried IN his coat pocket guess
thai Is why the iin.t mate stid on deck oil
OF the time. lie knew that the captain
was NJ drunk that he didn't hardly know
what hc was about, aud was probably
afraid that the captain would do something
foolish II the captain had been sober
don believe the vessel would have been
lest, for any sober mnn would have turned
back when he saw how badly she acted in
the big sea-"
The ordinary second mate OF passenger
Steamer would hardly dare Ia use such
language Ia the master M that Stone rs.
cnbcs to Capt. Higgins. but the
latter WIS not m ordinary second mate.
Up 10 a short time ago lac was in command
at the steamer LELAND, and lost his posi-.
ton when the steamer changed ownership
II Is difficult To- obtain command In III,
middle OF the season, and rather than ~
main idle he accepted the iint berth that
Nns offered him. In every sense lac wa
careful aud skilliul navigator and II h'
had been IN command 81 the Vernon tia
fatal night she might now be- ailoai. TIL,
same can Dc said oi Capt. sullivan, th,
flni mate, Who had for many years com
mandcd one Of the finest sailing vessels On
the lakes. The last time the Vernon wa
IN Chicago Capt sullivan. speaking Of III,
scaworihncss ot the steamer, remarked
that she WIS all right II properly loaded
but added that she was being loaded deep
or than she ought 10 bc.